Turkey-backed rebels detain Kurdish fighters near Syrian town

ALEPPO –People Protection Units (YPG) hold the Turkish government responsible for the treatment of four fighters that were captured by its proxy forces in northern Syria.

YPG issued statement as following:

“Turkish warplanes on August 28 bombed the village of Al-Kusa south of Jarablus city. As a result, tens of civilians were massacred and an unknown number of locals were injured,” the YPG said. “After the attack, the [SDF-linked] Military Council of Jarablus whose forces were positioned in the area called for urgent support in order to help evacuating civilians and treating the wounded.”

“Accordingly, a unit of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) – formed of four fighters – tried to reach the noted area as they were ready near Qereqozax Bridge. Yet, Turkish army and affiliated militants ambushed the vehicle of that unit and captured four combatants” YPG said.

After the fighters were captured, they were paraded on pictures without clothes and exposed to torture in public.

“From this point, we say to the public opinion, we consider the Turkish government and its army fully responsible for the lives and health of our fighters,” the YPG added.

Turkey-backed rebels and the Turkish army captured the town of Jarablus on August 24 without a fight. Immediately afterwards, clashes started to erupt between US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the pro-Turkey factions.

On Monday, the SDF-backed Jarablus Military Council said it would withdraw its fighters to the south of Sajur river, in order to protect civilians.

“After Turkey carried out a massacre in south of Jarablus and threatened us to target civilian villages again, we decided to withdraw,” the council said.

The YPG leadership reported on Monday renewed Turkish artillery shelling and airstrikes that led to the death and injury of scores of civilians in northern Syria.

“escalated random shelling by Turkish army forces killed 5 civilians, including 3 children, in Dandania a southern village of Jarablus, northern Syria,” the YPG said. Turkey-backed rebels detain Kurdish fighters near Syrian town